Extended warranty?

[slickpitt]

Bought a new TV yesterday. Old one died.. 50" Samsung Plasma for $1099. Best Buy trying to talk me into an extended warranty which I agree is a good idea... but they want $259 for the damn thing. If it was only like $150 it would be a no brainer... but $260 just seems high... hell that's almost 1/4 the price of the TV! Thoughts?

 

[bryguy]

I would look online and see what you can buy. Everything is for sale on the internet.
Here is one I found with a quick search:
TV Extended Warranty and Extended Service Plans at DTV Express - Front Projector Warranties

And this has some decent info about extended warranties:
TV Extended Warranty - Should I Buy A TV Extended Warranty?

 

[chemboy2]

Two months ago I would've replied that it was in a no way worth it, however, it isn't two months ago.

Mid last year we bought a printer from Best Buy and earlier this year it crapped itself. My wife found some paper work stating that we had apparently purchase said maintenance and we had barely two weeks left (we were sent a renewal). I high tailed it down to Geek Squad and handed the printer over for "maintenance contract" repairs. After three week BB calls and says that the piece required to fix the printer is too expensive and they will give us full purchase price credit towards a new printer.

Right now we are kicking ourselves because the view window of our digital camcorder is dead and we didn't get the warranty on it.

Point being is that $250 does seem high but it is a helluva lot cheaper than another $1099...

 

[FATC1TY]

You can get warranties through other companies, and depending on how you bought it, your entitled to cheaper coverage through your CC company if you went that route.

Point is, pass on the Best Buy warranty for a TV.

Laptop, I can see.. Printer, probably not.. DVD player, not.

It's just another way to make money, trust me.

 

[slickpitt]

This web site seems to have some good reviews. Thinking about going through them.

SquareTrade | Great Warranty Deals on Laptops, TVs, iPods & More

Look like I can get a 3 year plan for $139. Seems much more reasonable.

 

[spartyon8]

My personal experience is that extended warranties are a waste. It seems that products are almost built to last the life of a warranty and then crap out right after they expire. I have yet to have a tv go bad. Just purchased a new plasma because the newer gaming consoles, HDTV, and my new love for pc media requires the updated technology. I have an old tv from 24 years ago that still look great but I can't hook a darn thing up to the catv without switches and crap. But then again they don't build cars like tanks anymore so I guess I am no help on this topic.

+1 up in posts

 

[jerome]

On a samsung/panny/sony plasma tv there is like a 4% chance of having an issue during the 1st 3 years, and one of those years is already covered by the manufacturer. Figure those odds in with the fact that one year from today a tv like the one you just bought will be half that price and all of a sudden it looks like a bit of a sucker bet.

There is a reason why the salespeople push these warranties, and the fact is they make more selling warranties than selling tvs.

 

[N.V.M.]

extended warranties are almost pure profit for the stores. 'nuff said.

 

[eclark53520]

Better idea than anything....

DON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM BEST BUY!

That place is the most worthless excuse for an electronics dealer i have ever seen.

 

[Wi-Golfer]

There is a reason why the salespeople push these warranties, and the fact is they make more selling warranties than selling tvs.

extended warranties are almost pure profit for the stores. 'nuff said.

Not almost pure profit, 100% pure profit. Extended warranties are one of the biggest consumer ripoffs ever.

 

[thekid65]

Ya, I agree about extended warranties being a rip-off, the one thing to take into account with Best Buys program, that if you dont use it within the extended program years, they'll refund half of the money back.

The problem is, remembering it 5 years later.

 

[Bakemono36]

Plain and simple, extended warranties are a waste of money. It might be worth it in very rare cases, but usually its a waste.